1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:04,880 Speaker 1: From the Berkshires to the sound from wherever you live 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: in MLB America. This is Inside the Parker. You give 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: us twenty two minutes and we'll give you the scoop 4 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 1: on Major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of Fame 5 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:21,959 Speaker 1: voter number eighty three, Rob Parker. Welcome into the podcast. 6 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Rob Parker, and what a show we 7 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: have for you today. It's a very special New York 8 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 1: City vacation edition of Inside the Parker. Let's go up 9 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: to lead off. It's getting robbed and keep him on. 10 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,480 Speaker 1: Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories in Major 11 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:50,240 Speaker 1: League Baseball number one. So it is a vacation edition 12 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: of Inside the Parker. I'm in New York normally, you 13 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: know I'm in Los Angeles, and of course being in 14 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 1: New York, I'm going to baseball games. I went to 15 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: a Yankees game on Father's Day at the stadium. I 16 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 1: went to a Mets Braves tilt on Tuesday night at 17 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 1: City Field. So I've been covering baseball, catching baseball. In 18 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,320 Speaker 1: the Yankees game on Sunday on Father's Day, I was 19 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:20,680 Speaker 1: there for the triple play which ended the game, which 20 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 1: was pretty amazing and uh. Last night, of course, the 21 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: Braves beat the Mets. But I want to talk about 22 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:30,479 Speaker 1: the Yankees and what's going on. I mean, there's still 23 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 1: in the hunt, there's still above five, but my goodness, 24 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: something has to change. Last night against the Royals, in 25 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 1: the game that they lost, Garrett Cole had to lead 26 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 1: in the eighth inning and somehow the Yankees still lost it. 27 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: But they were over ten with runners and scoring position, 28 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: and they left thirteen men on base all night and 29 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: lost six to five. And the Yankees are really scuffling, 30 00:01:55,200 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 1: batting two seventeen with runners in scoring position, which is incredible. 31 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: And the Yankees now only two other teams in baseball 32 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: are worse than the Yankees to eleven back to seventeen 33 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:16,239 Speaker 1: batting average, and that's the Pittsburgh Pirates at two eleven 34 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: and the Milwaukee Brewers at two oh three. So this 35 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: team is like all enhing swinging for the fences home 36 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: runs or strikeouts. I mean, they're not driving in runs, 37 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,799 Speaker 1: They're leaving guys on base and not making contact, moving 38 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,359 Speaker 1: people over sacrifice flies. This has to stop. I mean, 39 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 1: this is this is mind boggling how bad the Yankees 40 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: are and yet they're still over five hundred, which is 41 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 1: shocking and they're still in the playoff hunt number two, Yes, sir, 42 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:52,959 Speaker 1: two ways sensations show Hey me the money. Oh Tani 43 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: that's what I like to call him. That's right. Made 44 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 1: history again on Wednesday, and uh as he hit for 45 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 1: himself as the picture and was second in the batting 46 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: lineup against the Giants, right even with the designated hit 47 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: it rules in place. It marked the first time in 48 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,919 Speaker 1: Major League history that an American League team chose not 49 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 1: to use the d H and a National League team 50 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: used one. Alex Dickerson was the d H for the 51 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: Giants and he had second and of course Otani uh 52 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: made history by doing that. It's just this is an 53 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 1: unbelievable UM year to watch this guy be a two 54 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: way player and uh continue to swing the bat well 55 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: and pitch well. Uh Otani was making his eleventh start 56 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: of the year. He entered Wednesday's game tied for the 57 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: major league leading home runs with twenty three. UH is 58 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: hitting two six in sixty eight games UM and he's 59 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: also set a career high in making the eleventh start. 60 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: He had made ten starts in his rookie year. Inen, 61 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: so he's doing it all I think he looks like 62 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: he could be the m v P of the American 63 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 1: League no matter where the Angels finished. But what a 64 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 1: guy he is. Must see tv Otani every day making 65 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: history for baseball number three. Good news for the Home 66 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 1: Run Derby. Pete Alonzo, the Mets masher, has decided that 67 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: he is going to partake in the Home Run Derby 68 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 1: in Denver. That's great news. Um, he will defend his 69 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: title from two years ago. Of course, there was no 70 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 1: All Star Game, no Home Run Derby last year during 71 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 1: the pandemic and uh the first Baseman announced on Instagram 72 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: Wednesday that he will indeed participate in his second career 73 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 1: derby next month next month in July, after winning that 74 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 1: derby inten so that is good news to see the 75 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 1: big man swing the big bat. Otani has announced that 76 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,159 Speaker 1: he is going to be a part of the Home 77 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: Run Derby as well, and everybody knows. The Home Run 78 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:16,720 Speaker 1: Derby has become uh I must see event, um, you know, 79 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:21,600 Speaker 1: and rivaling the the All Star Game itself. And it's 80 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: great that unlike the NBA where some of the biggest 81 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 1: stars don't want to participate in it, here some of 82 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 1: the biggest stars in the game. Want to participate in 83 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: the home run Derby, and I think it's great. It's 84 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: a great way to sell a game. It's exciting and uh, 85 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 1: that's great news. Can't wait. I will be in Denver 86 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: for that All Star game and give you an All 87 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: Star edition of The Inside the Parker, So stay tuned 88 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: for that. It's time for the Pocket Protector Central the 89 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: analytic numbers you need to know? Well, maybe Anthony Masterson 90 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 1: is his name, BS analytics is his game. What do 91 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: you got for me, Anthony? The beauty of baseball in 92 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: the stat cast era is every little detail is now 93 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: recorded for nerds like me to fawn over. But the 94 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 1: metrics that have come along a little more slowly than 95 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 1: others are the fielding numbers. But what we're seeing now, though, 96 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 1: is the glove work start to become more common. Let's 97 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:21,359 Speaker 1: have some fun with saber metrics, shall we. First off, 98 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 1: any batted ball to the outfield comes down to catch probability, 99 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: which is the likelihood for a ball to be caught. 100 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 1: With metrics like opportunity time, that is the moment the 101 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:31,799 Speaker 1: ball is released by the picture and the distance needed 102 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:35,039 Speaker 1: to make that catch. The metric outs above average is 103 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: the sum of all batted balls hit to an outfielder, 104 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:40,239 Speaker 1: where the play is either credited to their overall number 105 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: or debited if they don't make the play. For example, 106 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: a fielder makes it catch on a ball with a 107 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: twenty five percent catch probability, he gets say, plus zero 108 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: point seven five to his season long ledger, though if 109 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 1: he doesn't make that play, it's a minus zero point 110 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:58,039 Speaker 1: to five. Now, with those catch probabilities, they're divided into 111 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 1: categories from one star, which is a catch probability, to 112 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: five star, which is zero to This year, Boston's Kik 113 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 1: Hernandez has the most five star catches with three, while 114 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: a pair of Rays leading outs above average as Manuel 115 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 1: Marco and Brett Phillips, proved their value to keep balls 116 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: from falling, even if their offense has been a bit 117 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: shaky and a reminder it's not just about dingers and 118 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: strikeouts anymore. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk 119 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at 120 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: Fox sports Radio dot com and within the I Heart 121 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: Radio app search f s R to listen live. That 122 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:40,119 Speaker 1: ball is It was a big week in the big leagues. 123 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: Who's Who's the Is it foul or is it fair? 124 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: And now from mlbab bro dot com, here's JR. Gamble alright, 125 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: Normally on foul of fair, we just throw it to 126 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: JR Gamble from MLB bro dot com and he does 127 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: his thing. But this whole pitching and Google Gate and 128 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 1: all that stuff going on, there ain't enough time to 129 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:12,679 Speaker 1: just have them do it by itself. So we're gonna 130 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 1: break ranks on our normal uh foul affair segment, and 131 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: we're gonna do a debate, old fashioned debate me and JR. Gamble. 132 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 1: J R says it's foul what major League Baseball is 133 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: doing to the pictures and making them change on the fly, 134 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: and yours truly says it's fair because you know what 135 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 1: these rules are already on the books. Jr. You have 136 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 1: the floor. And what's your problem with Major League Baseball 137 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 1: cracking heads and undressing pictures on the mount? No way 138 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 1: that baseball getting it in its own way again, Rob, Listen, 139 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: Baseball is all about what we can't change. The game continuity. 140 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 1: Baseball has a flow to it, a cadence that's being 141 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 1: just up it by these constant checks for Google and 142 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 1: globs and substances. It's more disruptive brother than anything. We 143 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: saw it in the Phillies Nationals game where you have 144 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 1: a Hall of Fame picture, a guy that has put 145 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: in work one World Series, you know, and he's arrassed 146 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: several times by the umpires, and then Joe Girardi uses 147 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: the rule to his favor to try to, you know, 148 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: throw them off. That's not what they use the rules 149 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 1: intended for. It's not to do Jedi mind tricks with 150 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: the pictures and get them thrown off. That game, I 151 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: got you. But here's my argument. The rules are on 152 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:40,319 Speaker 1: the books already. You're not supposed to be gooling balls 153 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: up and all that. They let him get away with it. 154 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: And here's my other point. Baseball can't wait. We're on 155 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 1: our way to the worst offensive year in the history 156 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 1: of baseball, more strikeouts than base hits. Uh, the lowest 157 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:59,679 Speaker 1: team batting the league average ever in the game we're 158 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,680 Speaker 1: talking about. This is all time low. So we need 159 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: to fix this. The pictures have a huge advantage, and 160 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: it ain't right this game to be corrected, and we 161 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:13,200 Speaker 1: can't wait for next year. Let's get it right, and 162 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 1: let's get this thing fixed and and making competitive again 163 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 1: so bats have a chance against pictures. That's all I'm saying, 164 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: j R. I hear you. It's it's shot as sticker 165 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 1: shot because everybody's not ready for it. But you shouldn't 166 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 1: be doing balls. You shouldn't be doing it that you're 167 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: talking about the batters not being able to hit. That's 168 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 1: if it's the pictures that's making the batter is not 169 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 1: hit and the spin rate and the good that's making 170 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:42,679 Speaker 1: the battle is not hit. To me, you're giving these 171 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 1: guys an excuse wait to get it. We got Jacob Jacob. 172 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:50,319 Speaker 1: Jacob deGrom has a zero point five zero E r 173 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: ray when he has five games, so it all evens 174 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 1: out in the end. What is the r ray is ridiculous? 175 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:00,080 Speaker 1: When Bob Gibson at a one point one too. You 176 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 1: know what Baseball did. They lowered the mound the next 177 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 1: year because it was an advantage between next and Mickey 178 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 1: Lowledge and and and people like that. Listen, listen, Rob. 179 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: If it was that bad, then, like I said, we 180 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 1: have to blame the little league coaches, the high school coaches, 181 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:22,679 Speaker 1: these AU coaches, the developmental coaches for teaching his boomer 182 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: bus launch angle style of hitting. Isn't it ironic that 183 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: a guy like Michael Brantley, who when I spoke to 184 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: an All Star game a couple of years ago, he said, look, 185 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: my dad didn't let me do nothing but hit line drives. 186 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 1: When everybody on my team was hitting home runs. He said, look, 187 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: you're gonna go far by hitting line drives. Michael Brantley 188 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:44,200 Speaker 1: shit in three fifty three, Rob lad Gerero shitting three forty. 189 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 1: Tray China, Jesse Winker, Centric Mullins, Nick Costellanos, they hit 190 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:53,680 Speaker 1: three thirty. Maybe they need to get some hitting jobs 191 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 1: on major league team and stopped blaming the pictures because 192 00:11:57,320 --> 00:11:59,959 Speaker 1: you're talking about bad averages being down. I'm seeing guys 193 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 1: Tony Gwen numbers one through ten in the league. So 194 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: something's gotta give. It can't all be because you're wearing 195 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: google and sticky stuff, you know, and and rubbing your bottom. 196 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 1: I got you, I mean thought that's a fair argument, 197 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 1: but we all seeing historic and you're right. A lot 198 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:19,679 Speaker 1: of it has to do with guys swinging for the 199 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 1: fences and large angles, and I get that, but the 200 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 1: shift doesn't. He doesn't help, you know, like taking away hits. 201 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,200 Speaker 1: Guys hit the ball right up the middle and there 202 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 1: third basement in center field. That ain't right, that that 203 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:35,199 Speaker 1: doesn't mean anything that but but my brother, that doesn't 204 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 1: have anything to do with sticky stuff. I know what 205 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: I'm saying. But when you add all of that together, 206 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 1: with that the hits and then the pitchings the pictures, 207 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 1: we had a record number of no hitters we have, right, Okay, 208 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:51,440 Speaker 1: so this gotta be something that ain't right. We never had. 209 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,959 Speaker 1: We're just in June and we got six no hitters 210 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: and the record is six. For a whole year, we 211 00:12:57,720 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: might have twelve no hitters if you play out the 212 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: whole year. Something has to be fixed. And I get it. 213 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 1: It's not all the Google, but the Google is an issue, 214 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: and I think pictures already know that they've been let 215 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 1: off the hook for a long time. They're just gotta 216 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: clean their rack. Though, Okay, before I finished the mouseing 217 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:19,439 Speaker 1: you in this argument, let's just let's just let's just 218 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: say this all right. The pictures don't need to be 219 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:27,959 Speaker 1: harassed right now. This wasn't the time to do it, 220 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 1: And I don't think that it's gonna solve the problem. 221 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: All it does is make the fans upset. Because I've 222 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:38,079 Speaker 1: been engaging what the fans think on our various platforms, 223 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 1: including our best platform, MLB bro dot com. I've been 224 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: engaging with They don't like it. White, black, Chinese, Asian, big, 225 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: taller otherwise, none of the fans like this. And look 226 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 1: at how the pictures reacted in the game the other night. 227 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 1: I just think that it's Baseball trying to force the issue. 228 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 1: I'm glad they have somebody on this side with you. 229 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:01,960 Speaker 1: It might be you and no one else. You're and 230 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 1: the commissioner, only two people that think this is a 231 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 1: good idea. Brother, Let me get the Manford on the 232 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:12,959 Speaker 1: phone here, my man h Jr. Gamble of course, the 233 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:17,560 Speaker 1: fanity editor of MLB bro dot com. If you haven't 234 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: checked out the site, it's fantastic and his debate was good. 235 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: But I don't know we need an issue. I got you, yeah, 236 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 1: all right there where he is. Jr. Gamble. Appreciate you, 237 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: appreciate you. Throw money into more money. Now it's time 238 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:38,119 Speaker 1: for betting on the basis with Dave Gascott. Love that money, money, 239 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: jumping right into this with you. It looks like that 240 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: kind of a season for the Padres and the Dodgers. 241 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: San Diego has gotten the better of l A in 242 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 1: recent days. I'm taking both of these teams on Friday night, 243 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 1: in particular San Diego. They get the lowly Arizona Diamondbacks 244 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 1: at home at Petco Park. Diamondbacks have said a Major 245 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 1: League Baseball record for an aptitude on the road, historic 246 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 1: drawback for them. So I'm taking the Padres the run 247 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 1: line and the Padres money line. Take those two the bank. 248 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 1: I'm also taking the Dodgers at home against the Chicago 249 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: Cubs and not farewell earlier this season in the Windy City, 250 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 1: so I'm taking Los Angeles there. On top of all that, 251 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: i also have the Milwaukee Brewers at home, they get 252 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 1: the Colorado Rockies, were also awful on the road this season. 253 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 1: You look at the Nationally West, in fact, you got 254 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: the Diamondbacks and the Rockies that are the tail end 255 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 1: of this division, and of course San Francisco, l A 256 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: and San Diego the top dogs. It is a top 257 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 1: heavy division. Rockies and the Diamondbacks, you fade them all 258 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 1: the way out. When Rob was a newspaper columnist, he 259 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: lived by this motto. If I'm writing I'm ripping, Let's 260 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 1: bring in a writer, a broadcaster, older new All right, Now, 261 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 1: let's welcome to the podcast. A longtime friend of mine. Man, 262 00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 1: this guy knows more baseball than I can even remember. 263 00:15:54,920 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 1: Branson Wright, who's a film baker and all so a 264 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: freelance sportswriter for The Undefeated and a guy who I 265 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: know from way back. We even covered minor league baseball 266 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 1: when he first got into journalism. What's up, Branson right? 267 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: How are you hey? I'm good Ron. How you doing, brother, 268 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 1: I'm doing good. Tell people, man, what did you cover 269 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 1: to Michigan white Caps? Didn't you? Yeah, the the West 270 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 1: Michigan white Caps. And it was such a good way 271 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: to jump into the league. My first year. We had 272 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: a guy named Alex Rodriguez playing in Appleton, had a 273 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 1: guy named Billy Wagner pitching, and I think he was 274 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 1: on one of the Iowa teams. I can't remember the 275 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 1: Houston Astros what what was their affiliate, but it was 276 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 1: just Francisco Cordero was in the league. I mean, it 277 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 1: was so many good players and to see them start, 278 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 1: you know, eight years old, and just to see how 279 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: they developed makes you feel old, and especially since they're 280 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 1: all retired now, but you got to see some good 281 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:09,359 Speaker 1: baseball while these guys are at a younger age, no doubt, unbelievable. 282 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:13,400 Speaker 1: I still remember those days. Man, we used to talk baseball. 283 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:15,639 Speaker 1: You know where I where I am with baseball. But 284 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,199 Speaker 1: but you wrote a piece for The Undefeated. This is 285 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 1: why I was like, we gotta talk. You wrote a 286 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: piece that I enjoyed about Ricky Weeks and his uh 287 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 1: historically black college, uh historically black college and university baseball career, 288 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:37,119 Speaker 1: and you know people don't know that about him, but 289 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:42,120 Speaker 1: you write about he's one of the greatest college players. 290 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: You know from an HBCU just talk about Ricky Weeks 291 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:50,399 Speaker 1: and his career during college and now what he's doing 292 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 1: to help younger kids get into baseball. Well, what I 293 00:17:56,240 --> 00:18:01,640 Speaker 1: loved about the Ricky Weeks story. And Rob, I don't 294 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: know how you feel about analytics, and I hate them. 295 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:08,919 Speaker 1: Thank you, thank you, thank you. You know. But but 296 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:12,640 Speaker 1: I'll say this, Analytics has its place, but it can't 297 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 1: determine everything. It can't be a hundred percent of of 298 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 1: how you judge baseball. Now, I say that because Ricky 299 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 1: Weeks was not recruited out of high school and he 300 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:30,399 Speaker 1: went to a good baseball program in Florida. He had 301 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 1: some player on his team that went to the majors 302 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:37,359 Speaker 1: and got drafted and went to college. And this guy 303 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 1: just wasn't looked at because you know, we're not on television, 304 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:45,240 Speaker 1: but the air quotes. He didn't look like a baseball player. 305 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 1: He was anny kid, under six ft. So, as we 306 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,719 Speaker 1: all know, the eyes, let your eyes be the judge. 307 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,159 Speaker 1: So a Red scout happened to be in Florida. He 308 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:00,040 Speaker 1: was a cross checker. He was down in Florida to 309 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 1: helpen out some of the other guys with the Reds 310 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:05,680 Speaker 1: and they were looking at some other kids and this 311 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 1: cross checkers saw him and he went to Southern. So 312 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 1: he called the coach at Southern and said, hey, you 313 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:15,640 Speaker 1: you may want to look at this kid. So one 314 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:20,200 Speaker 1: scholarship offer to Southern. He gets the Southern hits over 315 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 1: four hundred his freshman year, wins the batting title. His 316 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 1: second year batting four not softball, in baseball, and this 317 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: is the n batting title. Yes, yes, Then the next 318 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:37,240 Speaker 1: year he wins it again. It was a down year. 319 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:40,119 Speaker 1: He had four seventy nine. Yeah, oh yeah, he was 320 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:46,120 Speaker 1: really slumming that year. So as these great numbers, uh, 321 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: he does he did something that I don't know if 322 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:51,359 Speaker 1: it will ever happen again. He won the Golden Spikes Award, 323 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:55,120 Speaker 1: which is the best college player in the nation from 324 00:19:55,160 --> 00:20:00,679 Speaker 1: an HBCU. So and he gets drafted, but I just 325 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 1: gotta go back Rob. He just you know, he didn't 326 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 1: have the analytics and people. Somebody just needed to see 327 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 1: him and that could judge baseball. And I always have 328 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 1: to go to from my alma mater, Universe of Cincinnati. 329 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:18,480 Speaker 1: Sandy ko Fax was there to play basketball. He happened 330 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,639 Speaker 1: to be playing in a baseball game. A scout Dodger 331 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 1: scout happened to come by on his way to Kentucky 332 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:29,919 Speaker 1: to see somebody, and Sandy Kofax was their picture. He 333 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 1: wouldn't have went there that day. Sandy Kofax may not 334 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 1: have become who he is, but analytics probably showed that 335 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:40,440 Speaker 1: he wasn't a good picture, right. No, you know what, 336 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: I'm with you and our guest is Branson Wright, who's 337 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 1: a filmmaker and a freelance journalist, writes great pieces for 338 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:53,160 Speaker 1: The Undefeated dot com, a part of ESPN dot com, 339 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 1: and UH as covered baseball for a long time. Knows 340 00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 1: the game. Somebody I respect his baseball knowledge because you 341 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:03,919 Speaker 1: know baseball, there's two sports. You can't fake Branson. You 342 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 1: can't fake baseball and you can't fake hockey if you 343 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 1: don't know those two. You know, if you don't know 344 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,040 Speaker 1: those two games, man, people people know right away. Am 345 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,240 Speaker 1: I right? You're right, You're right? And I want to 346 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:23,639 Speaker 1: add a third. You can't play boxing, right, no doubt. So. 347 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:26,880 Speaker 1: So Ricky played fourteen years in the major leagues, made 348 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 1: you All Star team in two eleven. All that we 349 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:32,639 Speaker 1: know played, had some great success with the Brewers, played 350 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:36,560 Speaker 1: for the Diamondbacks. But now tell us you know what 351 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 1: he's doing now, uh in the community, which I think 352 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 1: is awesome. Yeah, Well, he's, for one, he's a consultant 353 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:46,920 Speaker 1: to anybody that wants to know learn how to hit. 354 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:50,119 Speaker 1: You know, this is the guy you call. Uh. He 355 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:54,119 Speaker 1: and his brother who's his brother played in the majors briefly. Also, 356 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 1: they they have a program on camps that they run 357 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:01,360 Speaker 1: in the Orlando area and then they you know, got 358 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:04,399 Speaker 1: a call from the organization that ran the All Star 359 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:09,160 Speaker 1: Game and and was able to help the young players 360 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 1: there become a face so they could see an HBCU 361 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 1: graduate had success in baseball. So he's just doing all 362 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: he can to just make sure that black kids play 363 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:27,119 Speaker 1: the game and get the support for those that do 364 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:30,760 Speaker 1: play the game, for those that are successful. So you know, 365 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:34,120 Speaker 1: kudos to Ricky for for doing that. And hey, it 366 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:36,640 Speaker 1: was a hard time to catch him because he does 367 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:41,240 Speaker 1: so much uh in his community and around baseball. But 368 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:43,360 Speaker 1: I was glad to finally get in touch with him 369 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,879 Speaker 1: and able to do the story. Man, there it is. 370 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 1: Go take a look at it on undefeated dot com. 371 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:53,639 Speaker 1: His name is Branson, right, his brother knows baseball. I 372 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 1: appreciate you, thanks for joining the podcast, and we'll see 373 00:22:56,320 --> 00:23:06,919 Speaker 1: you down the road. Branson, anytime, anytime. In the words 374 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 1: of New York TV legend the late Bill Jorgensen, thanking 375 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 1: you for your time, this time until next time. Rob 376 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 1: Parker out. He can't get it. This could be an 377 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 1: inside the Parker to see you next weekend, same bad time, 378 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:20,919 Speaker 1: same mass station.